Emotional Listening #37

Turning On - Cloud Nothings (Bridgetown, 2009)
I got into Cloud Nothings with 2011's self-titled jangly pop punk/emo fest, yet, perhaps sadly, was unknowble to join the indie rock world in celebrating 2012's Albini-produced, critically acclaimed follow-up, Attack on Memory. Sure, the production was great and all, but the songs just weren't really there for me, and I wasn't into the dark turn the band's music had taken. I am just more into  the brighter tones and faster tempos of the earlier material, includuing now the 2009 debut, Turning On, of which my friend and ex-coworker Tim-Tom opened my world to. This record is definitely lo-fi (almost annoyingly so), and a little more garage-y, but the poppy melodies and smart guitar chord usage are still there. Opener "Can't Stay Awake" and deep cut "Whaddya Wanna Know" are pretty much in line and on par with the songs on the self-titled record (aside from the shitty production), nerdy, high pitched vocals and all. My favorite moment, though, is the ballad, "Water Turns Back" (simple, nice melody, great chords). This dude was a pretty good musician and songwriter at such a young age, and Turning On is a fun, quality look at the early stages of that.
Top jams: "Can't Stay Awake," "Old Street," "You Are Opening," "Water Turns Back," "Whaddya Wanna Know"


This Conversation is Ending Starting Right Now - Knapsack (Alias, 1998)
In my high school and early college days, when I was especially all about the emo, I always knew about Knapsack, but never took the time to develop a sonic relationship with them. This is unfortunate, because I would have been obsessed with this record. This Conversation is Ending Starting Right Now, the band's third LP and swan song, is chock full of hooks and quality melodies that are somewhat reminiscent of Jawbreaker. The sound here is huge (especially the drums), and that works really well with the band's pop sensibility. I was expecting something more along the lines of Four Minute Mile and Nothing Feels Good, but instead hear a slightly more emo version of, I don't know, Dear You or Goddamnit? Regardless, this album RULES.
Top jams: "Katherine the Grateful," "Change is All the Rage," "Shape of the Fear," "Skip the Details," "Arrows in the Action," "Hummingbirds," "Please Shut Off the Lights"


Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell (Asylum, 1974)
I found a new go-to fall album, and it is Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark. Whooooooo boy, what an album. I was not surprised by the overall folk-y sound here, but was by the amount of jazziness in a lot of the songs' structures and arrangements, and also the element of sexiness that is present in places throughout. There are some insane moments, the greatest of which is the noodly, almost 90s Chicago emo guitars that come in and out of "Help Me" (which is easily THE jam of the album), and the blatant nod to soul music in the very same song. And, this happens a lot. It is so much more than just a folk record, and that is what will keep me coming back to it. Very much looking forward to diving into some of her other work.
Top jams: "Court and Spark," "Help Me," "Free Man in Paris," "Car on a Hill," "Just Like This Train," "Raised on Robbery," "Trouble Child"


Movement - New Order (Factory, 1981)
I was pretty bummed when at first I felt a little disappointed in New Order's debut LP, Movement. I started with their second one, 1983's Power, Corruption & Lies, and to this day am still enamored by it. I was expecting to have even stronger feelings with Movement. Even though that's not the case, it only took a few listens to get over that initial disappointment and recognize it as the solid, introductory statement of the band that it is. It is very dark, and not as guitar-oriented as I had hoped, but I've come to realize that it still has a really cool sound. It's more goth than bright, guitar-driven post-punk, aside from the album's bookends, "Dreams Never End" and "Ceremony" (which are definitely the best songs). But some of the more goth-y moments have turned out to be quite spectacular, namely in "Truth" and "Senses." And seriously, "Dreams Never End" just might be new favorite New Order jam.
Top jams: "Dreams Never End," "Truth," "Senses," "Chosen Time," "ICB," "Ceremony"